Gladiators unstoppable as perfect march to NPL title continues

Gladiators – 306 all out in 38.3 overs (Panashe Taruvinga 123, Owen Muzondo 55, Tony Munyonga 48; Silent Mujaji 3/66, Donald Tiripano 2/66, Kudakwashe Ncumani 1/35)

Mutare Sports Club – 213-7 in 40 overs (Kudzai Sauramba 68, Nigel Bonyongwe 35, Kudakwashe Ncumani 29*; Malcom Chikuhwa 3/36, Owen Muzondo 2/35, Milton Shumba 1/38)

Gladiators won by 93 runs

A superb century from Panashe Taruvinga of Gladiators paced the way for his team’s continued march towards the National Premier League title with a 93-run victory over Mutare Sports Club at Takashinga on Thursday.

Taruvinga opened the batting with Wessly Madhevere, who was soon bowled by Tendai Chatara for six, but he then found a good partner in Tony Munyonga, who hit an aggressive 48 off 28 balls in a second-wicket partnership of 98.

The next three batters did not contribute much, but then Owen Muzondo came in to hit 55 off 38 balls.

Taruvinga was finally run out for 123, having faced 100 balls with two sixes and 15 fours, of his team’s final total of 306 all out in 38.3 overs.

Silent Mujaji was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 66 runs.

Mutare faced a very difficult task and were never up with the required run rate.

Their top scorer was Kudzai Sauramba, who made 68 off 80 balls, with a six and seven fours, and when the innings closed after 40 overs the score was 213 for seven wickets.

Malcom Chikuhwa took three wickets for 36 runs in his eight overs.

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Uprising – 313-7 in 45 overs (Ryan Kamwemba 90, Aisha Chibanda 65, Tadiwanashe Marumani 36; Thabo Mboyi 2/43, Admire Mupembe 1/6, Ashley Phiri 1/31) 

Amakhosi – 166 all out in 30.5 overs (Simbarashe Haukozi 34, Ashley Phiri 24, Keith Ndlovu 23; Jeremiah Makanya 6/39, George Matanga 3/54, Victor Nyauchi 1/18)

Uprising won by 147 runs

Ryan Kamwemba came good when it was needed for Uprising by scoring 90 as they cruised to an eventually straightforward victory over Amakhosi by 147 runs at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Uprising began badly, losing their opening batters for 14 runs on the board, but Tadiwanashe Marumani hit a quick 36 off 35 balls, and Kamwemba showed equally good form, and stayed in.

His 90 came off 90 balls and included two sixes and nine fours.

He had help from Gilford Muzeya with 36, and then Aisha Chibanda hit out to score 65 off 54 balls, the major contributors to the final total of 313 for seven wickets after 45 overs.

Amakhosi had no chance of chasing down such a good total and lost wickets steadily.

Their best innings came from Simbarashe Haukozi, who made 34 off 29 balls, with three sixes and three fours.

George Matanga took three good early wickets for 54 runs, but it was Jeremiah Makanya who had the pleasure of mopping up the tail, finishing with six wickets for 39 runs in 8.5 overs.

 

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